Encouraging Messages from Jesus on His Healing Touch—Page 3

People often question why I allow some to suffer more serious or frequent health problems than others.

Is it because I think some "deserve" it more? If that's the case, why do "good" people seem to have more than their share of illnesses? Isn't that a bit unfair? And when it's they who seem to have more than their share, the real question becomes, "Why me?"

Those are all valid questions. Here's the short answer:

I work differently in each person's life, because people are different. Their faith is different, their relationship with Me is different, and the lessons they need to learn at any given time are different.

I have a special plan for your life too. It's a good plan and all for your good, even though it may not always seem so to you. I don't push My plan on you—I'm not out to control you or prove who's boss—but I do try to steer you in the right direction.

I do so out of love, to help you, but even so, learning qualities such as wisdom, love, compassion, understanding, humility, and selflessness is sometimes a difficult and painful process, especially when I use sickness as a catalyst.

Sometimes, however, a particular sickness isn't part of My plan, nor is it due to any fault of yours. Rather, the enemy of your soul, the Devil, is trying to bring you down.

He will do anything he can to come between you and Me, make right living difficult, and generally interfere with your happiness, and sickness is one of his favorite tools.

Whatever the cause, when I allow you to get sick or suffer injury, I can cause it to benefit you in some way.

Trust in that promise, and you will find that the good always outweighs the bad.

reasures from the cavern of affliction

Even though your body may be telling you just the opposite, you stand to gain a lot through this time of affliction.

Afflictions cost you physically, but they have spiritual benefits—-or at least they have that potential. How much you gain depends largely on your attitude, what you're looking for and what you expect. If you take the "grin-and-bear-it, let-nature-take-its-course" approach, you probably won't gain much.

But if you take the "I'm-going-to-make-the-most-of-this-till-Jesus-heals-me" approach, you'll be amazed at the spiritual riches I have for you.

The deep, dark cavern of affliction is strewn with treasure. That treasure is in the form of lessons that lead to spiritual growth—lessons on tapping into My limitless resources of love, comfort and encouragement, lessons on drawing strength from My Word, lessons on prayer, lessons on praise, lessons on compassion, humility, patience, perseverance, and much, much more. Every lesson is like a jewel.

You can't fully see or appreciate their beauty while in the dark, but you will once you get them into the light, once the affliction is passed.

The darkness that surrounds you in this cavern of affliction will soon be a thing of the past. You'll see a speck of light in the distance, and as we walk on together it will get closer and closer.

The light is the light of victory, the fulfillment of My promises to you. Keep moving toward the light, but don't pass up any of those gems along the way.

Don't be in too great a hurry to break out into the fresh air and sunshine, or you might get there and look back, wondering what you missed!